(1) Transmissivity of fault zones in tight carbonates – results from a reservoir-scale hydraulic field laboratory in the Franconian Alb, SE Germany

Fluid flow in low-porosity/permeability reservoir rocks such as tight carbonates is mostly restricted to structural discontinuities (e.g. faults, fractures, karstified zones). Fault zones, in particular in such rocks, offer both suitable fluid flow pathways, but may also act as impermeable barriers. The heterogeneous permeability structure of fault zones, however, impedes pre-drilling investigations of exploration targets by numerical models. A better understanding of the factors that control the fluid flow and the heterogeneity of permeability distribution along fault zones in tight reservoirs is a pre-requisite for the definition of drilling targets.

In this study, a hydraulic field laboratory with a volume of 30 m x 30 m x 20 m was set up in a quarry in SE Germany to investigate the influence of fault zones on the general permeability structure of tight carbonates. The test field contained three WNW-ESE-striking, repeatedly reactivated normal faults with offsets in the order of <1 m and two roughly perpendicularly oriented NNE-SSW-striking fracture corridors. Fault zones and fracture corridors were targeted by 62 wells. Wells that exhibited a decent hydraulic connection the to the overall conductive fracture network were logged (e.g. borehole image logs, FWS, etcs.) and in selected wells hydraulic tests were conducted. Water levels were measured both during static conditions and during testing. Due to the density of wells we were able to constrain the controlling factors for fluid flow along and across the fault zones. Damage zones were considered as conduits while the fault core was expected to be impermeable. These general assumptions could be confirmed by our tests, however we found some exceptions. While fluid flow in general is restricted to few, well-connected fractures, the majority of the fractures are dead ends, solely serving as storage for fluids. With increasing displacement and complexity of the fault zone, enhanced permeability parallel to the fault zone could be inferred. At larger offsets, where a thicker fault core develops, fhe fault core itself acts as barrier and fractures and fracture corridors do not penetrate the faults. We think that this is related to the presence of the much less competent fault core of a certain thickness which is able to accommodate the brittle deformation. Where the faults offset is less than ~0.4 m, the integrity of the fault seal is breached by fracture corridors, cross cutting the faults. This is clearly shown by the pressure distribution in static and transient conditions. Faulting, hence leads to a compartmentalization of the reservoir, where the compartments do either communicate or interact with significant delay.

The information and data received from the conducted field tests furthermore serve as input parameters and validation for a newly developed numerical approach that aims to simulate fluid flow in this type of geological settings, results of which will be presented in an additional presentation by our project partners.